Guffaw in AZ
personal responsibility
Hell On Earth
Blacks, Guns & CrimeJuan Williams, a black commentator, wrote an interesting article recently entitled “ Race and the Gun Debate.” (Wall St. Journal, Mar 27, 2013) Among the statistics he cites are that 54% of all murders involve black victims, virtually all of whom were killed by black murderers, and yet blacks comprise only 13% of the population.These are familiar numbers, but, as Williams points out, although more than half the “gun problem” can be laid at the feet of blacks, the gun debate never seems to mention this. If it were mentioned, the obvious thought that might occur is maybe it’s blacks that need to be regulated and not guns.Three years ago I wrote the following in the prologue to my book They Came For Our Guns, They came For Our Freedom (William Lafferty):“ The single most important factor that has caused the political left to demand an end to private firearms ownership is that the underclass has, over the last fifty years, expanded exponentially, bringing with it an exponential increase in crime. Many of these criminals come from the single-parent families encouraged by the welfare system, a dysfunctional government give-away favored by the far left. The absence of fathers has led large numbers of children to seek gangs as a substitute for parenting not available at home. Not content with having created an entire class of welfare-bred criminals, the political left now seeks to protect this underclass by rendering ordinary citizens defenseless against crime perpetrated by these criminals.”
In sum, both blacks and whites are part of this criminal underclass, but, as Juan Williams points out, blacks, a 13% minority, are doing 54% of the killing and dying. That needs to be said.Why is this happening? According to Juan Williams, the out of wedlock birth rate for blacks is now 72%. This leads to more than 70% of black mothers being on welfare raising more than 70% of black children without fathers.That’s part of the problem. Another part, Williams says, is:“ a dysfunctional gangster-rap culture that glorifies promiscuity, drug dealers and the power of the gun.”
So now we have black culture of violence financed by the welfare system producing what are – by any measure – distorted values. One might think this needs to be addressed.
“We only kill each other” – Bugsy Siegel
On losing a furry loved one…
Brigid reminds us often of the love, responsibility and loss we acknowledge in our lives. Recently, her friend Vic @ Monkeywrangler had to put down her beloved dog Charlie.
I was never allowed pets as a child. For many years, I believed it was because my parents didn’t trust me with that responsibility. Later I found out my Dad had both a dog and a cat in his teen years. And they died. And it was he who couldn’t bear that pain, again.
Once I was out of college and had my own place, I more of less by default acquired a cat, a black longhair with yellow eyes. Partly feral. Beelzebub. The moniker seemed appropriate. She would sleep on my chest and upon my awakening bat at my eyes with her claws out! Guess it was time to get up. The landlord had told me no dogs. He saw the cat and amended his statement to include cats. Bastard! To the so-called Humane Society she went. I’d no other choice at the time.
It was years later when I met my future wife I learned she had a kind of chi-weenie. Lady Eowyn. She was very timid, and didn’t like me, and ran away. Then we got a Spitz (Nessie) and a knee-height brown shorthair mix (Ilsa). And a Calico shorthair cat (Gracie). And some kind of special Siamese with a tabby skeletal structure (Bear). They all left this World in various ways: disease, fights, old age.
And this process about killed me. Each time. I now know something of what my Dad must have felt. Our pets were not working animals; they were part of the family.
Now, living with my exgf, and her three Chihuahuas and black long-haired cat, I know this will happen again. I was here before when another cat passed away. And the old lady dog is 18 1/2 years old!! Blind, deaf, no teeth. But in no pain and a real sweetheart. And the two other dogs are 14.
I’m constantly reminding you to love the people in your lives. Love your animals, as well. Do it now.
Because you never know.
Crosby – she’s 18 1/2 !
CHEAT TO WIN in the Real World!
Massad Ayoob
Old NFO shared with us a tale of aviators versus airmen, and reminded me a a story from Massad Ayoob, from years past.
The truncated (and flawed-from-memory) version is Mas was involved in a ‘war game’ style pistol competition; multiple assailants advancing on his position. Rather than advancing and engaging, he dug in, awaiting the ‘bad guys’ to make their advance, and come to their doom. The R.O. kept changing the rules, in an effort to get Mas to play the game: R.O. – “They have your daughter, Mas! Mas – “I can get another!” Eventually, his postgame analysis was he would have stealthily sneaked up on the assailants individually from the rear, and executed them, rather than engaging from the front and getting ‘killed’. (a la Major George Nonte?)
Mr. Ayoob’s (and Old NFO’s) point is CHEAT TO WIN!
Were not speaking of scholastic or business competition here, where people are expected to have rules of conduct and to act ethically. We’re speaking of survival!
If some street punk (or a bevvy of street punks) is attempting to relieve you your wallet by threatening you with your life, the Marquis of Queenbury Rules do not apply! ALL IS NOT FAIR IN WAR!
CHEAT TO WIN! Let the bad guys rail “That’s NOT fair!”, assuming they survive the encounter.
h/t Col. Jeff Cooper
THE LIST
Fill Yer Hands recently blogged regarding a minor phenomena I’ve seen more and more of. And, frankly, have heard about for years.
You’re a gun owner – why don’t you join the NRA or the SAF or some other pro-rights organization and put your money-where-your-mouth is?
Because I don’t want to be on a list.
SERIOUSLY?
You think that mouthing off in your local watering hole about the President or his policies, or buying firearms and ammunition, or prepping, or posting comments on the Internet haven’t already gotten someone’s attention?
It’s been widely reported that the ‘temporary’ NICS background check files have been (illegally) saved by the FBI, and every time a licensed gun shop goes under, they are required to ship all their filed Federal Forms 4473 to the BATFE. We suspect there’s a huge database, although we’ve no positive proof.
How about the DHS Watch Lists when flying, or taking a train, or traveling abroad? Or the NSA monitoring all the email traffic electronically, looking for key words like ‘guns’ in messages?
Personally, I suspect there has always been a list, and I involuntarily was added to it upon my first ‘papered’ firearm purchase. And my ranting in this blog (and as a commenter on other blogs) about libertarianism, the Constitution, Gun Rights, Civil Liberties and various government abuses probably has made my file thicker.
But, I don’t care. Why? If indeed there are concerted efforts to monitor the actions and locations of possible threats (e.g. gun owners and free-thinking people) I’m probably at the head of the line. Not only am I a gun owner and speak out about it, I’ve spoken publicly about the JFK assassination.
If there indeed IS a list, and we as a nation cross the Rubicon, I’ll never make to the camps…
(quietly removes tin-foil hat and skulks away…)
Meanwhile, in Israel…
h/t Free North Carolina, Knuckledraggin’ My Life Away
Easy-Peasy! TAKE ACTION NOW!
Ruger Firearms has a web page dedicated to YOU taking action to contact our elected officials with regard to the issue of gun control.
They suggest you contact these people NOW, and provide the means do so.
If you are too lazy to visit their website, I’ve copied the text and links below. You may call the folks, email ALL of them simultaneously! (based on your address and zip) and forward the links to your friends.
Easy-Peasy.
Step one: Please click on one of the buttons to the right for an easy way to tell your legislators you care about gun rights. The Take Action Now! button allows you to send a prepared email letter quickly and easily. The Find Your Representatives button has detailed contact information for each of your legislators so, if you prefer, you can call them or write them a more personal letter.
Step two: Get all your friends to help support our rights; ask them to click on the link and send letters too. Click here to email this web page to your friends.
More: Many elected officials have been looking for an opportunity to curtail our gun rights and think they can win now if they move quickly while emotions are high. In Washington D.C. and in state legislatures across the country, anti-gun forces are gathering and conspiring in an effort to pass bad legislation that goes beyond anything we have ever seen. At least one legislature is discussing making public the identity of all pistol permit holders, treatment typically reserved for convicted sex offenders.
Reality seems to be lost on these folks. Cities like Washington D.C. and Chicago, with some of the strictest gun laws on the books, are hotbeds of violent crime. Nationally, violent crime involving firearms has declined since the expiration of the Federal “assault weapons ban,” while lawful ownership of firearms has increased. More lawful gun ownership, less crime.
To help your voice be heard, we have set up this special service on our website. By clicking on the Take Action Now! link, you can contact your legislators.
Please act now, before it’s too late.
FTC – Ruger Firearms gives me nothing, save an easy way to get my voice heard in Washington and my State Capitol. Now go away.
h/t Traction Control
Where do we go from here?
A quick perusal of about 105 blogs (and news and opinion sites – most mornings) doesn’t bode well the answer to this question.
People who support individual, Constitutional liberties over collectivist ‘it’s for the children people sea birds, snail darters et al’ rubbish are scrambling for this very answer.
It’s obvious the Grand Old Party has no backbone, and hasn’t had for some time. Nor does their platform have anything to do with preserving American Freedoms. It’s our government control versus their government control.
And the Democrats Progressives have been completely assimilated by the progressive movement, in the forever-forward effort to ‘fundamentally change’ the nature of this Nation. Brick by bloody brick. Away from its founding documents and principles.
The Libertarians! (you answer.) While they did best this year of any election year, ever, they are still a drop in the bucket. And, as libertarians, they philosophically don’t lust for power and control. It’s against their nature. And the Demopublicans are reluctant to give up any of their monopoly.
The Tea Party(s)? And there’s is a two-fold problem. 1) There are many of them, some with differing views, and 2) The Left has successfully painted them as racists, even though there is scant evidence of that – largely promoted by the (largely Left) media.
Want proof of anti-Constitutional furor? It’s all over the media…
The Second Amendment has Outlived It’s Relevance to America – The Staten Island Advance
Let’s Give Up On The Constitution – The New York Times
Haven’t 95% of all elected federal officials already done that, beginning with denying their Oaths of Office to said Constitution?
And bloggers and commenters abound on the Internet, blustering about how they’ll stand behind every blade of grass with a rifle, and the Three-Percenters will, and the Oath Keepers will refuse to take disarmament action against United States citizens…
All while the TSA, and the FBI and the NSA and a myriad-of-alphabet-soup-other-agencies quietly and consistent erode all of our civil liberties, with the tacit approval of Congress and multiple Presidents!
SO…where DO we go?
It’s for the children, you know…
THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. - Thomas Paine (1776)
Cleaning House
WELL…
It’s not what you think…still unpacking…finding places for stuff…never-ending…
I unfriended a couple folks from Facebook who have ranted (or copied other’s rants) with regard to severely decreasing or limiting or eliminating my natural rights with which I may defend myself. In short, buying into the popular culture’s (MSM’s) spin on gun control. It’s ‘for the children’, you know! I’m a libertarian (small L). I support their rights (even if I disagree) – why don’t they support mine?
I also finally got around to removing my previous Guffaw in AZ blog as produced on Blogger software. The end total was 109,419 hits! I began writing here on WordPress March 6, 2012. And was still getting something like 150 hits/week on the old blog!
Done.
Now if I can only find where to put all this house crap…
How Sad
One of the things I’ve enjoyed about blogging is finding out persons from all over The United States, in fact, The World have clicked on a posting or a Google/Bing response and found their way here. I’ve stated many times before that I’m continually amazed anyone stops by – so anyone doing so makes me happy. Or used to.
I monitor the (meaningless) statistics about the blog – Where are readers located? How many? Total views for a 24 hour period. Then I compare that to what posts I did that given day in an effort to find more titles/subjects appealing to more readers. It really doesn’t affect my titles or content. I’m compulsive. It’s not as if I make any money doing this!
But, the other day, I quickly inserted a blog post blurb regarding the horrific tragedy in Connecticut, as the reports were coming in. Just the name of the town, Newtown Connecticut was the title.
And I was deeply saddened to see 333 search views in 24 hours! My average is 163 over the previous 28 days!
Are people so ghoulish that this is what drives them? Even worse is so-called ‘news’ organizations are so thirsty to ‘get the story first’ they report anything without verifying facts or sources!
It used to be there was a twenty-four hour news cycle, many times longer. Now it’s minutes; seconds. No time to verify anything, just get ‘it’ out there! If it’s wrong, we’ll submit a correction – or not.
And the people who just can’t wait to hear about the latest exploits of Lindsay Lohan or Honey Boo-Boo are waiting like vultures to lap it up. Or search for it on the Internet.
How sad.
The Triumvirate On Gun Control
There has been much gnashing of teeth in the past few days over the most recent school shooting. Surely, the fact that I must use the term ‘most recent’ gives one pause. Or the term ‘school shooting’ that doesn’t involve marksmanship practice.
And the Internet is all abuzz with sorrowful pleas for ‘they’ to do ‘something’. I believe it’s human nature in that we all feel so helpless when such things occur. We want ‘something’ to be done.
The President himself just released his proposals, including another assault weapons ban, a magazine capacity ban and restrictions on private sales of firearms. (Of course, none of these measures would have stopped the homicidal, unbalanced criminal from the recent massacre of innocents.)
I’ve mentioned recent events a couple of times, and even wrote a couple yet unpublished posts, but many other bloggers have addressed the issues in a much more eloquent and informed manner than I. If you’ve not seen these three recent postings, you should go to the links and read. And think about what you have read. And hope The Nation has enough wisdom to absorb these things, as well. Links and excerpts below…
A Couple of Elephants by Old NFO
~The mental health community has morphed away from actually treating and committing people due to numerous lawsuits by, among others, the ACLU. Also, due to ‘privacy’ concerns, many institutions will not report a person with mental health problems to NICS or even to local police. You can go find articles that point out that the ONLY way to get someone committed is to have charges filed against someone.~
~A few school systems use School Resource Officers (SROs) who are either retired LEOs or are LEOs specifically hired to work in schools both for security. those SROs are armed, have full police powers and are directly connected to the local police departments via radio if they need assistance/backup.
Many were funded under programs from the Federal Government after Columbine…
However, those programs were de-funded by the current administration.~
Stop Teaching Our Kids To Kill by Dave Grossman, Lt. Col. USA (ret.) (via Maddened Fowl)
~Research on the background of our juvenile mass murderers show they have one thing in common: they ALL dropped out of life and filled their lives with nothing but violent movies and violent video games. The sickest video games and the sickest movies are very very sick indeed. And the sick sick kids who immerse themselves in this “entertainment” are very sick indeed.~And it is a world-wide phenomenon! Germany has had two mass murders in their high schools with body counts that beat Columbine. England had a massacre in the kindergarten class in Dunblain Scotland, tragically forecasting Sandy Hook. Canada had the Taber, Alberta school massacre. Finland has had three school massacres. In Norway the killer got on an island and killed all their kids. In China killers are going in the classrooms with knives and gutting and hacking the kids. In Belgium a sicko got in the day care center and hacked 12 babies in the cribs, dressed as the Joker from the Batman movie. (All those European gun laws made THEM real safe, eh?)And we though it wouldn’t happen here!?And you think its over now? The worst is yet to come. We will reap what we sow for a generation to come…. Until we stop teaching our kids to kill.~
Feeling Good by A Girl and Her Gun
The mental health crisis/real school security, video games as parenting, and the desire to absolve our guilt – to feel better – all need to be addressed and solved, lest these behaviors continue. And lest our rights be taken away for no good reason.
PS - Bobbi punctuates EVERYTHING with common sense!
~Know the facts. Know the “official facts” even if you choose to doubt them — and get expert advice. The “rifle found in a car” was contentious issue here at Roseholme Cottage, until Tam found video of it being removed: it’s a scary, black…
pump-actionshotgun! She was pretty sure of make and model from the low-rez image, thanks to her years shooting and working at gun stores. (Remember, the media talking heads reporting this stuff know a lot less about guns than you do — and they’re being briefed by police who are used to dumbing things down for them.)~~Know your audience. In my blog, I can talk about the deterrent effect of removing legal barriers to teachers and school employees being armed if they chose to be (and qualify for whatever carry permit their state offers!). In the lunchroom at work, not so much. Don’t be That Guy; we can’t afford it just now.~
OKAY, that’s really four, not three! Regardless, take a few minutes and read each of these wise bloggers’ entire posts. I’d say doing so is for the children, but that would just be pandering. It’s for ALL OF US!
